Number of newborn roofed turtles exceeds 80 in Yadanabon Zoo since April

Newborn roofed turtles a critically endangered species in protected site of Yadanabon Zoological Garden.

THE number of newborn roofed turtles reached a record high of 86 in the Yadanabon Zoological Garden in Mandalay Region within the first half of this year, with the conservationists taking good care of existing turtle eggs in the garden, said Dr Tint Lwin, a manager of the turtle farm.
Baby roofed turtles have hatched out the eggs in the protected areas since April of this year. Beginning early April to mid-June, 86 newborns are recorded in the farm.
Thanks to the conservation project, the production rate of roofed turtles has reached a record
high within a decade, he added.
A combined team comprising members of staff from the garden, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), conservationists
have preserved the Myanmar roofed turtle, a critically endangered species, in 2001 at the Yadanabon Zoo in Mandalay, starting with a male and two females.
For the time being, there are more than 700 roofed turtles all over the country.
The conservationists continue to carry out research programme to increase population of the rare turtles, finding the best ways to breed them, Dr Tint Lwin said.